Social Studies

by Fran Lebowitz

Second collection of essays by the author of "Metropolitan Life" (1978).

Genres: Essays, Humor, Nonfiction, New York, Classics, Comedy, Memoir

147 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 1981

About the author

Frances Ann "Fran" Lebowitz is an American author and public speaker. Lebowitz is known for her sardonic social commentary on American life as filtered through her New York City sensibilities. Some reviewers have called her a modern-day Dorothy Parker.

Reviews

[Jordan West · Rating 2 out of 5]

I finally read Lebowitz's first collection a few days back, and despite an unfortunate tendency to turn into a hyper-arch, NYcentric female version of professional curmudgeons like Andy Rooney and Cleveland Amory, the wonderfully witty turns of phrase sprinkled throughout kept me entertained, and gave high hopes for her next book. Alas, this was a major letdown; Lebowitz's schtick came off here as almost immediately tiresome - indeed, it almost seemed like she herself was tired of it; I don't know if Fran's infamously intractable writer's block was already present at the time of this book, but the pieces therein - mainly facile variations on the "What if X were Y? It would probably go something like this!" comedic cliché aimed at yuppies with intellectual pretensions - feel like they were written for no other purpose than meet a deadline. So disappointing, it almost made me long for SeinLanguage.

[Checkman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book when it was published in 1981. I found it very funny. As a result of picking this book up one day on a dull Sunday afternoon I've been a fan of Fran Lebowitz for the past thirty years. I have to thank my mother. It was her book.

But if I understand some of the other reviews posted here I am dating myself. The essays are old and out of date.

Okay I'm old and out of date. The writing is still funny and smart. And I'm not even from New York state much less New York City.

[Julie Stout · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clever, funny, self-deprecating in a way not hackneyed, cliched, and annoying. Wish Fran were more prolific. I could go for a lot more of her takes on things! Funniest essays were about navigating the cultural differences that this New Yorker experienced in L.A., as well as apartment hunting in NYC and some of the very eccentric aspects of those places.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Think before you speak. Read before you think. - Fran Lebowitz from Social Studies(page 25)

Fran is one of those people you see all over the place usually on television with her wit and sardonic look on life involving books, writing, and people and, she usually centered around life in New York City. Much of the book is a social commentary on life in the Big Apple in the late 70's. It is entertaining and humorous. Some of her observations could be dated but in that sense, it's a snapshot in time. The chapters inside the book are relatively short(as is the book itself) because, like many in New York City, I imagine who has time for long-winded writers bloviating on end about how tough it is in the city. Fran is to the point with her wit and sardonic humor which is refreshing nor too heavy a reading load. It was a joy to read.

[Nofreeusernames Nofreeusernames · Rating 3 out of 5]

Je to už fakt zastaralé. Škoda, že má Fran posledních 30 let autorskou blokádu. Ale i tak je lepší na ni koukat na videu. Jak dokument na HBO, tak i série na Netflixu jsou #mustsee

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fran Lebowitz's compilation of articles were very hit and miss. I think the problem with the "miss" titles are that they're extremely and obviously dated. Now when I say dated, I don't mean they are so old that it's interesting in a retrospective type of way, as they are only about 25 years old. A lot of the jokes just didn't translate well and would definitely not even be mildly amusing or possibly understood by people who weren't living in NYC in the 80's.

That's not to say that the book is all bad though. Yes her humor can sometimes get a bit redundantly obvious, but when she nails it - it had me literally laughing out loud. The article she wrote on a guide for how millionaires can find and attract the lay person is absolutely hilarious (i.e., "Generally speaking, the poorer person summers where he winters."). She keeps most of her articles short which I think was a smart idea, and touches on a lot of ubiquitous annoyances in an almost darker Seinfeldian manner. The book is worth a gander if you happen to come across it, but I'd be hard pressed to recommend anyone run out and buy it.

[Billy · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you were to draw a line from early Woody Allen to recent Ian Frazier, odds are that Fran Lebowitz would snag her (undoubtedly stylish) sweater on it. Social studies, her second collection of sardonic essays, where she discusses "People," "Places," and "Things," utilizes the same methods of satire and parody made familiar by the New Yorker humorists of the 1970s. Lebowitz thus finds herself in the same field as Dorothy Parker and Victoria Geng, but Lebowitz manages to carve out a unique comic identity. Her voice is that of the upper-class, New York, chain-smoking, martini-drinking, Jewish lesbian member of the literati. While she garners a lot of laughs from giving advice on how to talk to poor people and how to ignore children, this collection ends up becoming repetitive, with little variation on the one-trick satire. To her credit, though, Lebowitz achieved the near-impossible: She wrote comedy at the height of Reagan's popularity. As a satire of a particular way of life that has since become a rote stereotype, more intimate than Geng's political humor of the era, this collection deserves a read.

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were some pieces in here I could happily have gone without reading. It’s my prerogative as a backwards bumpkin from the American hinterlands to deem some of these essays less than funny. And I use the word “essay” generously, a sentiment I hope Fran would appreciate. But overall, the world is richer for this collection having been written, and it will be poorer when its author is gone.

My favorite sections were “Places” and “Ideas.” I too get so sick of hearing people talk about place like it’s a matter of opinion. It’s astoundingly uninteresting. My least favorite section was “People.” I don’t know if the essays were beyond my comedic grasp, or just arrogant. Either way, I love you for it, Fran.

[Stewart Hoffman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted to read one of Fran’s books after enjoying her appearances on the Bill Maher HBO show. She seemed informed, quick-witted, and funny. It was no surprise then to find her book, Social Studies, informed, clever, and on occasion, very funny.

As with most books containing the random thoughts of the author, including diet plans, auction information, and tips for phone directory personnel, some articles hit their mark, and some fall flat. Thankfully, in Social Studies, there are more hits and misses, and I found this a mostly enjoyable read.

[Riley Peek · Rating 3 out of 5]

I hate rating things. This book is fabulous and I give it three stars.

[Julia Perfect McCormick · Rating 3 out of 5]

better than last one but i still think she is only medium funny. just watch sex and the city carrie bradshaw if you want to better understand what is going on here

[Salma]

I now understand why Martin Scorsese always follows her around, laughing, smiling from ear to ear. I also understand why she annoyed Andy Warhol. Finally, I understand why Toni Morrison said to her that she always seems right, but never fair. This book is a cultural critique, a social parody, but Fran keeps a straight face; she doesn’t break character once.

[Emma Julian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite being written 40 years ago, Fran Lebowitz's acerbic commentary on people, places, things, and ideas in urban life remains unparalleled in its wit, accuracy, and misanthropy. Has there ever been a more perfect description of humankind than the following:

"People (a group that in my opinion has always attracted an undue amount of attention) have often been likened to snowflakes. This analogy is meant to suggest that each is unique - no two alike. This is quite patently not the case. People, even at the current rate of inflation - in fact, people especially at the current rate of inflation - are quite simply a dime a dozen. And, I hasten to add, their only similarity to snowflakes resides in their invariable and lamentable tendency to turn, after a few warm days, to slush." (4.5/5)

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished this short story collection in two sittings and pretty much laughed my way through.

Fran’s gift with words is extraordinary. The way she could elevate humour in a literate way, her spot on observation of society in a sarcastic manner, have always amazed me. Her writings also doesn't seem to age with time and human beings are still such even though decades have passed. However, I do think it’s a very specific humour that you need to be carefree to appreicate. The story about apartment hunting though...BEYOND brilliant.

Mandatory reading for New Yorkers.

*I suggest to first watch her documentary “Public Speaking” before getting into her writings.

[Anne Walbridge · Rating 1 out of 5]

After years of seeing Fran Lebowitz popping up, Zelig-like, in all these incongruously glamorous settings, I wanted to like her writing. She's the classic outsider-insider, who's got to have some prime observations, right? But when I finally got around to reading this book, it just felt far too dated. Not even worthwhile as a period piece, just stale and cringe-inducing...

[Marjorie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it and I laughed often. I especially enjoyed the chapter, POINTERS FOR PETS. This book will lighten anyone's day.

[Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant. Effectively a handbook of some of the finest satirical essay writing in existence.

[Ewan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very bland for the bulk of this one, but again, like Metropolitan Life, when Lebowitz can drag some interest or notes of uniqueness, there is a laugh or two to be had. Nothing incredible, and definitely weaker than Metropolitan Life, but there are enough observations made in here to make for some light reading, albeit annoying at times.

[Angie Stevens · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love Fran but I just feel like a lot of this book just doesn’t hold up for today. She’s no doubt a wonderful speaker and one of the sharpest people alive today but this book failed to hold my attention. I’d love to read something more recently from her if she’s been able to get over her writers block. If anyone really wants to appreciate her genius I recommend the documentary by Martin Scorsese about her called, “Public Speaking.”

[bella · Rating 4 out of 5]

"If in addition to being physically unattractive you find that you do not get along well with others, do not under any circumstances attempt to alleviate this situation by developing an interesting personality. An interesting personality, is, in an adult, insufferable."

[Kelsi · Rating 4 out of 5]

fran lebowitz in a national treasure!! linguine with clam sauce superiority!! loved it!!

[Lily Lincoln · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laughed out loud. I love Fran <3

[vas · Rating 5 out of 5]

“If you’re going to do something, do it halfway. Business is business.” I am in love with you Fran Lebowitz

[Debbe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is worth reading just for the author’s recounting of her search for an apartment. I do enjoy her sardonic humor.

[the69thwave · Rating 4 out of 5]

if every thought that occurred in phoebe waller-bridge's mind, from when she signed that $60m amazon prime deal and made absolutely no content for them, was written on paper.

[Mabel · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first few essays were fantastic and had me cackling, but most of the rest were a bit dull or just lost on me. I love Fran Lebowitz anyway

[Lisa Hope · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this when I was in Virginia Beach for the first part of the summer of 1983. I remember almost nothing about it but that it was the smae snarky humor that had endeared Metropolitan Life to ...well other would be snarks. From my 1983 book journal, "Not bad. Liked M.L better. There were a few hee-haws, but it dragged." The I start rambling about how a boy named Michael and I had discussed marriage. He had been my neighbor in Italy and had been newly-found. I think that I read these collections of essays the wrong way. I should read one essay then set the book aside for a few days...read...respite...read......... When I read them straight through they lose their punch. At that point all the worse aspects come through. Took me a while to figure that one out.

[Bill Daniels · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started reading Fran Lebowitz in the late, lamented "Interview" magazine.

She came off as a very edgy late seventies Dorothy Parker. She almost raised sarcasm to an art form.

She was wicked funny.

[Kaethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Melissa, as always, was the one to introduce me to sophisticated things like caviar and Fran Lebowitz.

[Tammy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I'm 20 years too late, and 20 years out of NY to truly appreciate this book.